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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established on December 30th 1994, (Act 490) and given the responsibility to regulate the environment and to ensure the implementation of governments policy on the environment.It is the leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in Ghana and has regulatory and enforcement roles.

Vision

An agency dedicated to continuously improving and conserving the country’s environment in which all sections of the community value the environment, strive to attain sustainable development, effective and efficient resource management based on good environmental governance, taking into account social and equity issues.

Mission

To co-manage, protect and enhance the country’s environment in particular, as well as seek common solutions to global environmental problems.

EPA’s Corporate Objectives

EPA seeks to:

ØCreate awareness to mainstream environment into the development process at the national, regional, district and community levels;

ØEnsure that the implementation of environmental policy and planning are integrated and consistent with the country’s desire for effective, long-term maintenance of environmental quality;

ØEnsure environmentally sound and efficient use of both renewable and nonrenewable resources in the process of national development;

ØGuide development to prevent, reduce, and as far as possible, eliminate pollution and actions that lower the quality of life;

ØTo apply the legal processes in a fair, equitable manner to ensure responsible environmental behaviour in the country;

ØEncourage and reward a commitment by all EPA staff to a culture based on continuous improvement and on working in partnership with all members of the Ghanaian community

Functions of the EPA

ØThe functions of the Agency are,

ØTo advise the Minister on the formulation of policies on the environment and in particular to make recommendations for the protection of the environment;

ØTo co-ordinate the activities of bodies concerned with the technical or practical aspects of the environment and serve as a channel of communication between those bodies and the Ministry;

ØTo co-ordinate the activities of the relevant bodies for the purposes of con-trolling the generation, treatment, storage, transportation and disposal of industrial waste;

ØTo secure by itself or in collaboration with any other person or body the control and prevention of discharge of waste into the environment and the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment;

ØTo collaborate or co-ordinate with foreign and international agencies for the purposes of this Act;

ØTo issue environmental permits and pollution abatement notices for controlling the volume, types, constituents and effects of waste discharges, emissions, deposits or any other source of pollutants and of substances which are hazardous or potentially dangerous to the quality of the environment or a segment of the environment;

ØTo issue notice in the form of directives, procedures or warnings to any other person or body for the purpose of controlling the volume, intensity and quality of noise in the environment;

ØTo prescribe standards and guidelines relating to the pollution of air, water, land and any other forms of environmental pollution including the discharge of waste and the control of toxic substances;

ØTo ensure compliance with the laid down environmental impact assessment procedures in the planning and execution of development projects, including compliance in respect of existing projects;

ØTo act in liaison and co-operation with government agencies, District Assemblies and any other bodies and institutions to control pollution and generally protect the environment;

ØTo conduct investigations into environmental issues and advise the Minister on these issues;

ØTo promote studies, research, surveys and analyses for the improvement and protection of the environment and the maintenance of sound ecological systems in the Republic;

ØTo initiate and pursue formal and non-formal education programmes for the creation of public awareness of the environment and its importance to the economic and social life of the country;

ØTo promote effective planning in the management of the environment;

ØTo develop a comprehensive database on the environment and environmental protection for the information of the public;

ØTo conduct seminars and training programmes and gather and publish re ports and information relating to the environment;

ØTo impose and collect environmental protection levies in accordance with this Act and the Regulations;

ØTo regulate the import, export, manufacture, distribution, sale and use of pesticides; and

ØTo perform any other functions conferred on it under this Act or any other enactment.

Role of EPA under the WAAPP

The activities of EPA under the West African Agricultural Productivity Programme fall under component one: Enabling conditions for Regional Cooperation in Technology Generation and Dissemination. The specific objective of this component is to strengthen the mechanisms and procedures for registration and dissemination of technology products (genetic materials, pesticides and other crop protection products) to allow for regional cooperation, cross border trade and distribution. The activities under this component are carried out in collaboration with MoFA/PPRSD and other relevant institutions.

Focal point for Environment

The EPA serves as the focal point for the environment under WAAPP. It works in close collaboration with the Programme Coordination Unit towards the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Environmental and Social Management Safeguards of the WAAPP.